Method and apparatus having a variable detection area for detecting a position of an object

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for detecting a position of an object using a position detecting device having a variable detection area. In one implementation, a method of detecting an position of the object includes determining a sensing area used to detect the position of the object from an entire area that is formed by a sensor having a plurality of linearly arranged sensing elements and in which the position of the object may be detected, visualizing the sensing area using a light-emitting element, detecting the position of the object in the sensing area, and displaying the detected position of the object on a display screen. The detection result of the position of the object is reflected on the display screen according to a ratio of a horizontal length of the display screen to a horizontal length of the sensing area.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of detecting a position of an object using a position detection apparatus, the method comprising:
 determining a sensing area used to detect the position of the object within an entire area that is formed by a sensor having a plurality of linearly arranged sensing elements and in which the position of the object may be detected;   visualizing the sensing area using a light-emitting element;   detecting the position of the object in the sensing area; and   displaying the detected position of the object on a display screen, wherein   a detection result of the position of the object is reflected on the display screen according to the ratio of a horizontal length of the display screen to a horizontal length of the sensing area.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining of the sensing area is performed by acquiring from memory information stored in a memory about a sensing area corresponding to an area in which the object is first detected from pre-stored information in the memory about the sensing area. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining of the sensing area is performed by providing an input interface and an output interface configured to allow selection of the sensing area on the display screen and to receive information about the sensing area through user input. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the visualizing of the sensing area is performed by a light-emitting element configured to emit light only in an area corresponding to the sensing area. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the visualizing of the sensing area is performed by a light-emitting element configured to emit light in different colors in the sensing area and in an area other than the sensing area. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining whether an input is received through a physical button integrally provided with a sensor having a plurality of linearly arranged sensing elements; and   performing a function that matches the detected object when an input is received through the physical button.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein, in the determining whether an input is received through the physical button, it is determined that an input is received through the physical button when a user presses the physical button with a force equal to or greater than a threshold force. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the function that matches the detected position of the object is determined by the position of the object received immediately before an input is received through the physical button. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the applying of the detected position of the object on the display screen includes activating one of at least one menu icon according to the detected position of the object on the display screen on which the at least one menu icon is displayed, wherein executing the function that matches the detected position of the object is executing an application that matches the activated menu icon. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein, the activating of one of the at least one menu icon includes changing a color or a shape of the one of the at least one menu icon. 
     
     
         11 . A position detection apparatus comprising:
 a display portion configured to display information on a screen;   a sensor portion using all or a part of an entire area, which entire area is formed by a sensor having a plurality of linearly arranged sensing elements and in which the position of an object may be detected, as a sensing area for detecting the position of the object;   a light-emitting element configured to visualize the sensing area; and   a processor configured to determine the sensing area and to control the display portion to display the detection result of the position of the object on the screen, wherein:   a detection result of the position of the object is reflected on the screen according to a ratio of a horizontal length of the screen to a horizontal length of the sensing area.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to acquire from memory information stored in a memory about an area corresponding to an area in which the object is first detected from information pre-stored in the memory about the sensing area. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to provide an input interface and an output interface that allows selection of the sensing area on the screen and receiving of information about the sensing area through user input. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the light-emitting element is configured to visualize the sensing area by emitting light only in an area corresponding to the sensing area. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the light-emitting element is configured to visualize the sensing area by emitting light in different colors in the sensing area and in an area other than the sensing area. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to determine whether an input is received through a physical button integrally provided with a sensor having a plurality of linearly arranged sensing elements and to perform a function that corresponds to the detected position of the object when an input is received through the physical button. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the processor is configured to determine that an input is received through the physical button when a user presses the physical button with a force equal to or greater than a threshold force. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the function that matches the detected position of the object is determined by the position of the object received immediately before an input is received through the physical button. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the processor is configured to activate one of at least one menu icon according to the detected position of the object on the display screen on which the at least one menu icon is displayed and to perform a function that matches the detected position of the object by executing an application that matches the activated menu icon. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the processor is configured to activate one of the at least one menu icon by changing the shape or color of the one of the at least one menu icon.